MOTORSPORTS CART officials question summit

Talks with the IRL focused on improving the image of open-wheel racing.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- CART and the Indy Racing League have found something new to fight about.
Three of five CART panelists withdrew Tuesday from a two-day open-wheel racing summit after questioning the forum's objectivity.
CART officials also were put off by the location, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is owned by Tony George's family. George was the founder of the Indy Racing League and the key player in the CART-IRL split in 1996.
"There's a reason political summits are held in places like Geneva or Iceland, and that's because of neutrality," CART spokesman Adam Saal said.
Improving the product
The two-day discussion was focused on improving the image of open-wheel racing amid a poor economy and the rapid growth in popularity of NASCAR. Topics included how to attract more sponsors and fans as well as increasing television viewership.
CART officials attended last year's discussion and were prepared to send several panelists, including president and CEO Chris Pook, when the tentative itinerary was scheduled in January.
Initially, Pook was to headline a panel with CART officials called "Charting A New Course." He was taken off the agenda in February.
Executive vice president Fred Nation said the IRL also anticipated having its own panel, which followed last year's format. Nation said those plans were scrapped because organizers wanted more panel discussions rather than "sales pitches."
"They wanted Chris Pook to be part of the event and they were told Tony George would not be part of the conference," said summit director Rob Berlinger. "We decided we wouldn't have Chris Pook here as well."
Berlinger works for Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal, which put on the event.
Scheduled speakers
Two CART panelists -- chief operating officer David Clare and vice president John Lopes -- were to speak Tuesday. Vicki O'Connor, president of the CART-owned Toyota Atlantic series, was to participate today.
CART officials told organizers Monday that those three would not attend. CART doctors Terry Trammell and Steve Olvey are scheduled to take part in today's discussion about safety improvements.
Saal said CART became more concerned with the summit because of comments made during this month's practice and qualifying for the Indianapolis 500.
"It did appear to be an unobjective and unfair environment," he said.
The summit's location was another issue.
Last year, the first day was held at a downtown hotel, the second session at the speedway. This year the entire summit was inside the speedway's media center.
"If that was an issue, somebody should have thought of it before the night before," Nation said. "At the end of the day, this is a blip on the screen."
Berlinger said CART had discussed its concerns early on but still expected series officials to take part in the summit.
CART meetings
Saal also said CART has been holding its own town hall meetings at many of its race venues. The next one is scheduled for June 2 in Cleveland, where the Cleveland Grand Prix is scheduled July 5.
CART, however, missed an opportunity to address a large media contingent in Indianapolis for Sunday's Indianapolis 500.
"If we felt we were walking into a fair and open forum, we'd participate," Saal said.
Organizers of the summit called CART's decision a surprise.
"I think it makes a difference to the people who paid to be here to hear about a broad range of views in open-wheel racing," Nation said. "I think the participants who are here will hear many valuable viewpoints."